Lea Michele Reached Out To Amber Riley After Racism Accusations

After being accused of racism, actress Lea Michele reached out to former “Glee” co-star Amber Riley. The actress opened up about Michele “for the first and last time” in an Instagram Live interview on Wednesday.

After Samantha Ware, who appeared in “Glee” Season 6, called out Michele’s bad behavior on set, Riley posted a gif showing her sipping tea. Michele was accused of committing “traumatic microaggressions,” making Ware’s life “a living hell” and threatening to defecate in her wig.

“My response to it on Twitter is literally because I’m a clown and I thought that it was funny,” Riley explained to Danielle Young, host of "Real Quick With Danielle Young."

Later, she explained that Michele reached out this week after the controversy. Riley revealed it was the first time they talked in two years, but she didn’t share the details of the conversation.

“She reached out to me. I responded to her. And that’s where it ends for me. I ain’t talk to that girl in two years. I have no hatred or ill will on that end, and I want to make that very clear. My life and what I talk about is not going to be about that. I will shut it down immediately. This is the first and last time I’m going to say something.”

In addition to saying she’s proud of Ware for speaking out, she added that she isn’t accusing Michele of racism. “I am not going to say that Lea Michele is racist,” Riley stated. “That’s not what I’m saying. That was the assumption because of what’s going on right now in the world, and it happened toward a black person. I’m not going to say that she’s racist. She’s also pregnant … and I think that everybody needs to chill. Ya’ll dragged her for a couple of days.”

Riley, who has been attending racial equality protests and advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement, explained that the incident has led to others in Hollywood letting her know about their experiences.

“But at the same time, in my inbox, there were a lot of black actors and actresses that were in my inbox telling me their stories and were letting me know that they have dealt with the same things, being on set and terrorized by the white girls that are the leads of the show,” Riley revealed. “We all know that a person of color and a black person is always the sidekick, it’s always number 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 on the call sheet. Very rarely are they number 1 if it is not an all-black cast.”

The Olivier Award winner continued, “So the stories I’m reading about how white women are using their privilege and the fact that they are not fireable—something that I was told once on set after having my own complaint. They know that they are not fireable and they use that privilege to terrorize their counterparts. These networks don't have to give a [expletive.]

"We were even told, we were expendable. The colored girls, black girls, are expendable. I am talking about the culture of Hollywood right now and how they treat black characters, black men, black women. I’m talking about the culture."

On Thursday, Riley started the hashtag #unMUTEny for black actors to share their experiences.

After speaking with Young about the importance of intersectional feminism, Riley made her stance clear. “I don’t give a [expletive] about this Lea Michele thing. I wish Lea Michele well. I hope she has an amazing pregnancy. I hope that she’s grown… I didn’t read [the apology] because I told ya’ll I don’t give a [expletive] about it. That’s my hope and my prayer for her.”

The 34-year-old, who was one of the original cast members on “Glee,” made it clear that she won’t address the situation with Michele again. She is more focused on changing the world.

“What I’m trying to do is help people understand that we need to love and support each other,” Riley said. “If it ain’t about defunding the police, prosecuting killer cops or Black Lives Matter or my EP that’s coming out…I don’t care.”

Watch Riley's full interview with Young below. The Lea Michele discussion starts around the 46-minute mark.